Pressure-sensing devices

Abstract

A pressure-sensing device includes a device frame, a flexible membrane, a pressure sensor, and device electronics. The device frame includes a base surface that rests on a supporting structure and a frame attachment region located opposite to the base surface such that the frame attachment region is raised from the supporting structure when the base surface is resting on the supporting structure. The device frame also includes a seating surface. The flexible membrane is attached to the frame attachment region such that the device frame and the flexible membrane enclose a pressure chamber. The seating surface extends outward around the flexible membrane and the flexible membrane protrudes above the seating surface. The pressure sensor is configured to generate a pressure signal. The device electronics are configured to determine the pressure in the pressure chamber based on the pressure signal.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A pressure-sensing device comprising:
 a device frame comprising:
 a base surface configured to rest on an external supporting structure that is separate from the pressure-sensing device; and 
 a frame attachment region located opposite to the base surface such that the frame attachment region is raised from the external supporting structure when the base surface is resting on the external supporting structure; 
   a flexible membrane including a membrane attachment region attached to the frame attachment region, wherein the flexible membrane protrudes above the device frame and is configured to conform to a user's perineum region when the user is seated on the flexible membrane, and wherein the device frame and the flexible membrane at least partially enclose a pressure chamber including an air mass between the device frame and the flexible membrane;   a pressure sensor at least partially included within the pressure chamber and in contact with the air mass, the pressure sensor configured to generate a pressure signal indicating air pressure of the air mass in the pressure chamber; and   device electronics configured to determine the air pressure in the pressure chamber based on the pressure signal, wherein the device electronics include a vibration device configured to vibrate the pressure-sensing device.   
     
     
         2 . The pressure-sensing device of  claim 1 , wherein the vibration device includes a motor. 
     
     
         3 . The pressure-sensing device of  claim 1 , wherein the vibration device is configured to vibrate in response to changes in the air pressure in the pressure chamber. 
     
     
         4 . The pressure-sensing device of  claim 3 , wherein the vibration device is configured to provide a strength of vibration that corresponds to the air pressure in the pressure chamber. 
     
     
         5 . The pressure-sensing device of  claim 4 , wherein the vibration device is configured to provide a strength of vibration that corresponds to a strength of a contraction event. 
     
     
         6 . The pressure-sensing device of  claim 1 , wherein the vibration device is configured to vibrate in response to detection of one or more contraction events. 
     
     
         7 . The pressure-sensing device of  claim 1 , wherein the vibration device is configured to vibrate in response to the user reaching a pre-set exercise metric. 
     
     
         8 . The pressure-sensing device of  claim 1 , wherein the vibration device is configured to vibrate in response to detecting a pre-set number of contractions. 
     
     
         9 . The pressure-sensing device of  claim 1 , wherein the vibration device is configured to vibrate in response to the user's posture. 
     
     
         10 . The pressure-sensing device of  claim 1 , wherein the vibration device is configured to vibrate in order to prompt the user to at least one of contract and relax in the perineum region. 
     
     
         11 . The pressure-sensing device of  claim 1 , wherein the vibration device is configured to vibrate at a specified vibration strength in order to prompt the user to contract at a corresponding strength. 
     
     
         12 . The pressure-sensing device of  claim 1 , wherein the vibration device is configured to vibrate according to a pattern in order to prompt the user to contract in a manner that corresponds to the pattern. 
     
     
         13 . The pressure-sensing device of  claim 1 , wherein the vibration device is configured to vibrate according to commands received from a user computing device. 
     
     
         14 . A pressure-sensing device comprising:
 a device frame comprising:
 a base surface configured to rest on an external supporting structure that is separate from the pressure-sensing device; 
 a frame attachment region located opposite to the base surface such that the frame attachment region is raised from the external supporting structure when the base surface is resting on the external supporting structure; and 
 a seating surface; 
   a flexible membrane including a membrane attachment region attached to the frame attachment region, wherein the device frame and the flexible membrane at least partially enclose a pressure chamber between the device frame and the flexible membrane, wherein the pressure chamber includes an air mass, wherein the seating surface extends outward around the flexible membrane, wherein the flexible membrane protrudes above the seating surface and is configured to conform to a user's perineum region when the user is seated on the flexible membrane and the seating surface, and wherein the seating surface is configured to contact a portion of the user around the flexible membrane;   a pressure sensor at least partially included within the pressure chamber and in contact with the air mass, the pressure sensor configured to generate a pressure signal indicating air pressure of the air mass in the pressure chamber; and   device electronics configured to determine the air pressure in the pressure chamber based on the pressure signal, wherein the device electronics include a vibration device configured to vibrate the pressure-sensing device.   
     
     
         15 . The pressure-sensing device of  claim 14 , wherein the vibration device includes a motor. 
     
     
         16 . The pressure-sensing device of  claim 14 , wherein the vibration device is configured to vibrate in response to changes in the air pressure in the pressure chamber. 
     
     
         17 . The pressure-sensing device of  claim 16 , wherein the vibration device is configured to provide a strength of vibration that corresponds to the air pressure in the pressure chamber. 
     
     
         18 . The pressure-sensing device of  claim 17 , wherein the vibration device is configured to provide a strength of vibration that corresponds to a strength of a contraction event. 
     
     
         19 . The pressure-sensing device of  claim 14 , wherein the vibration device is configured to vibrate in response to detection of one or more contraction events. 
     
     
         20 . The pressure-sensing device of  claim 14 , wherein the vibration device is configured to vibrate in response to the user reaching a pre-set exercise metric. 
     
     
         21 . The pressure-sensing device of  claim 14 , wherein the vibration device is configured to vibrate in response to detecting a pre-set number of contractions. 
     
     
         22 . The pressure-sensing device of  claim 14 , wherein the vibration device is configured to vibrate in response to the user's posture. 
     
     
         23 . The pressure-sensing device of  claim 14 , wherein the vibration device is configured to vibrate in order to prompt the user to at least one of contract and relax in the perineum region. 
     
     
         24 . The pressure-sensing device of  claim 14 , wherein the vibration device is configured to vibrate at a specified vibration strength in order to prompt the user to contract at a corresponding strength. 
     
     
         25 . The pressure-sensing device of  claim 14 , wherein the vibration device is configured to vibrate according to a pattern in order to prompt the user to contract in a manner that corresponds to the pattern. 
     
     
         26 . The pressure-sensing device of  claim 14 , wherein the vibration device is configured to vibrate according to commands received from a user computing device.